One of Jesus’ seemingly radical teachings (recorded in Matthew chapters 5 through 7) stresses that the law regulated outward behavior, but what Jesus promoted as more important is the condition of the heart.
Matthew 5:21-24 — “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Jesus tells us that not dealing with anger in a godly manner could lead to hatred which could lead to “fiery hell.” Not a comforting thought. Anger seems to be such a close “friend” to so many — easy to come by, quick to act, and devastating in its results.
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Author: Mary Ann Yaconis
Keywords: reconciliation, reconciled, reconcile, forgiveness, giving offence, causing offence, offending, offending others, offending your brother, anger, angry, apology, apologize
Bible reference(s): Proverbs 15:1, Mat 5:22-26, Luke 17:1, Romans 14:19
Source: “Be Reconciled,” Glad Tidings, July/August 2013, pp. 12-3.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.